Can you use a sheet mask after a clay mask?
Yes! you can. In fact, many believe that this can give you the best effect of the sheet mask. I know many beauticians that often do this on their client’s face.
If you have dry skin, your skin will probably love it. But if you have oily skin, maybe you can skip this step or apply your sheet mask the next day.
Even though I have dry skin, I don’t always do this as it really takes time. I’ll do this whenever I want to give my skin a boost and my skin will feel revitalized the next day. The idea is to clear out all the impurities with a clay mask so the essence of the sheet mask will absorb better after your detox your skin.
Your sheet mask should be mainly focused on hydrating or soothing to calm your skin after a clay mask. I found that they pair perfectly together because clay mask has a tendency of drying out your skin. A sheet mask can increase your skin’s moisture level and hydrate your skin.
Hydrating masks have the best effect out of all types of sheet mask. If your skin shows some signs like redness and flushing, you can use a soothing mask to calm your skin.
Click here to find out my favorite mask.
Sheet mask
A sheet mask is a paper mask that has grown their popularity over the past few years, thanks to kbeauty. Some Korean women use a sheet mask every single day. They believe sheet masks are soaked with essence and it will penetrate deep into your skin within 15-20 minutes.
How to pick a good sheet mask
There are two main things when it comes to picking a good sheet mask. First of all, the fabrics of the sheet mask. Secondly, the ingredients of the sheet mask.
There are a variety of types of fabric types for sheet mask. For instance, non-woven, hydrogel, and bio-cellulose. Each of the fabrics has its pros and cons.
- Non-woven
- Hydro-gel
- Bio-cellulose
The non-woven sheet mask is inexpensive and breathable. However, it doesn’t adhere and fit well on your face. You will find it hard to move around when you having them on.
Hydro-gel masks are generally separated into two parts, top, and bottom. It gives your skin a cooling sensation and adheres to your skin very well. For instance, Lancome Genifique Hydrogel melting Mask.
Bio-cellulose mask is relatively new in the market. It is breathable and adheres to skin well. The bio-cellulose mask is very thin but can hold up to 100 times of serum than its weight when it is dry. It doesn’t dry down like the non-woven mask even when you put it on for 30 minutes. For example, Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Anti-Aging Lifting Bio-Cellulose Mask.
Hydro-gel and bio-cellulose masks adhere and fit on your face really well, but they also cost more compared to non-woven masks.
The ingredient of the sheet mask
I’m not an expert in beauty ingredients, but I certainly learn a lot along the way due to my sensitized skin. If you don’t know anything about the ingredient, you can do like what I do. I will check the first three to four ingredients on the list online to make sure the main ingredients that I put on are beneficial to my skin.
There are a few ingredients that I absolutely love finding in the ingredient list on a sheet mask.
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Glycerin
- Natural ingredients like propolis, aloe vera, heartleaf extract
First of all, Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance found in skin to preserve your skin moisture level and maximize your skin’s collagen level. Your skin will look more plump and youthful.
Secondly, glycerin. It is a humectant that can draw moisture back to your skin from the air in the humid environment. With that being said, it acts as a shield and slows down the water evaporation process from your skin. Glycerin is very effective and helps to prevent irritation and combat dry skin.
Last but not least, natural ingredients. I started to pay more attention to what ingredient I put on my face ever since my skin became sensitized. I realized that natural ingredients could be a good solution for my sensitized skin. Natural ingredients like honey, ginseng, coconut oil, and olive oil are great for nourishing your skin.
Clay mask
Clay mask has one common ingredient which is Kaolin. It is a type of white clay that is gentle and safe to use on the skin. The main purpose of a clay mask is to detox and deep cleanse your skin. Sometimes it also exfoliates dead skin cells.
Clay mask draws out impurities and removes sebum from your skin. Your skin feels refreshed and your pores are refined afterward. You can wet a towel with some warm water (slightly hot) before applying the clay mask. The hot towel will open up your pores and give you the best result.
For the record, some hydrating and moisturizing mask also comes in clay form. For example, Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Color Clay Mask. It provides hydration and controls your sebum. Your skin feels balanced and moisturized.
We have an article that discusses 8 different types of face masks in detail for dry skin.
Know Your Face Mask: How to Pick a Face Mask for Dry Skin
If you have dry and sensitive skin, which one is better for you?
It’s best to have both types of masks because they serve different purposes for your skin. But when it comes to dry and sensitive skin, I’d say depends on the weather and air pollution at the place that you live in. In most countries in Asia, it’s very common that people to drive a car or motorbike on a daily basis.
Therefore the air quality is not the best. Your skin also creates more sebum and appears to be more oily in humid and hot weather. In this case, it’s best that you deep cleanse once or twice a week because the dust, smoke, and tiny particles can trap into your skin easily.
On the other hand, in some countries with cold and dry climates, you only need to use the clay mask once a week or maybe just once every two weeks. Your skin needs more hydrating and moisturizing in such a climate.
Whenever I travel somewhere during the fall, I’ll always make sure I bring some soothing or hydrating masks with me. You’ll never know how your skin would react to the environment and weather, so it’s best to be prepared.
